FSD Africa Investments

Overview

FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi) is the investment arm of FSD Africa, a UK International Development funded regional programme operating in more than 30 countries from its Kenya base, to make finance work for Africa’s future. While FSD Africa supports market development through advocacy, thought leadership, and capacity support, FSDAi makes investments in support of these policy objectives in novel financial instruments, facilities and intermediaries that can accelerate the role of finance in Africa’s green economic growth. As a private company limited by shares, FSDAi’s shareholders include both FSD Africa and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FSDAi uses a range of equity, debt and grant-based investment instruments specifically designed to accommodate early-stage commercial risk, drive high market development impact, and generate acceptable risk-adjusted financial returns on investment. Across its portfolio it has invested alongside private capital strengthening Africa’s financial systems to deliver better-quality jobs and economic opportunities, equitable access to basic services, reduction of human vulnerability and inequity, and environmental benefits. With a mandate to take significant investment risk, FSDAi fills an important funding gap by assuming the commercial risk of novel financial solutions that neither development finance institutions nor private investors are prepared to take. In this way, FSDAi assumes the investment risk necessary to drive structural change in Africa’s financial markets.

Investment Focus

• Innovative financial solutions addressing market gaps
• Focus on green economic growth
• Early-stage commercial risk accommodation
• High market development impact potential
• Acceptable risk-adjusted financial returns

Portfolio Companies